Pittsburgh’s most famous son is the eccentric artist, Andy Warhol. His iconic pop art images defined the 1960s for many, and his home town is rightly proud of his work and legacy. The Andy Warhol Museum celebrates the life and works of this creative genius and gives visitors a chance to explore Warhol’s inspiration and the development of his craft by showcasing less well-known pieces.
The largest museum in the United States dedicated to a single artist, the Andy Warhol Museum boasts around 8000 pieces in its collection, housed in 17 galleries over the seven storeys of a building on the North Shore of Pittsburgh. These include paintings, sculpture, prints, photographs and an extensive film library, celebrating Warhol’s love of moving pictures.
Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh in 1928. He first discovered art by taking part in the free Saturday morning classes arranged by the Carnegie Institute. The museum dedicated to his work is run by the Carnegie Institute today, and works to continue the Institute’s aims of encouraging creativity in young people.
Warhol made his name in the 1960s with his pop art images of Campbell soup cans, and his portraits of stars including Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley. These brightly coloured prints still draw the eye as much as they did then, and you’ll be amazed at the simple elegance of his process.
Away from the star attraction, you can explore Warhol’s development of his personal style in his sketches found in the early work gallery. See the artist’s impression of himself, alongside images snapped by others, in the self-portrait gallery. Warhol was a great lover of film, and produced many feature-length films, including The Chelsea Girls and Empire, as well as several hundred shorter videos. Stills are displayed around the museum, and there are regular screenings of Warhol’s films in the cinemas and galleries here.
For a more in-depth view of Andy Warhol’s work and life, join one of the talks that take place here every day. Details of these, and of other lectures and screening events can all be found on the museum’s website.
The Andy Warhol Museum is open every day except Mondays and national holidays. Paid parking is available just to the north of the museum, or public transport stops nearby.
